FMD Structural-Protein Antibody ELISA (Vaccine Response)

Foot-and-mouth disease, or FMD, is a highly contagious virus disease of cows and buffaloes. It causes fever, blisters in the mouth and on the feet and teats, drooling, lameness and a sharp fall in milk. In Hindi it is often called khurpaka-munhpaka. Vaccination is the main way FMD is controlled in India, and herds are commonly vaccinated under government programmes. FMD is notifiable, so if any animal shows signs, owners should tell their veterinarian or the animal husbandry department.

The outer shell of the FMD virus is made of structural proteins. Vaccines contain these proteins, so after vaccination animals make antibodies against them. This ELISA measures those structural-protein antibodies for each FMD virus type tested, typically types O, A and Asia 1, the types used in vaccines in India; the exact types are confirmed when you book. Vets and herd managers commonly use it to check how well a group of animals responded to vaccination, for example by testing samples taken before and after vaccination at the times your vet advises.

The report shows the antibody level for each type, compared with the range on the lab report. It describes the herd's response to vaccine and does not by itself tell how protected an individual animal is. Infection also raises these antibodies, so a high level does not always come from vaccine; the NSP antibody ELISA can help tell the two apart. Young calves may also carry antibodies from their mother's colostrum. A registered veterinarian reads the results with the vaccination dates, the herd's history and other tests.